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Scam Guardian - Getting Started

 

Scam Guardian is a feature of Avast Antivirus that provides users with the following tools to recognize and avoid online threats, improving digital security:

  1. Avast Assistant: An AI-powered cybersecurity assistant that analyzes texts, emails, and links for potential scams and cybersecurity concerns. It can also be used for any online safety related questions.
  2. Web Guard: This tool scans internet activity in real time to prevent malware from downloading onto devices and help you avoid suspicious websites.
  3. Email Guard: A feature that scans incoming emails in your online accounts to help detect potential scam and phishing risks, with AI-powered detection available as an optional setting.
  1. Avast Assistant: An AI-powered cybersecurity assistant that analyzes texts, emails, and links for potential scams and cybersecurity concerns. It can also be used for any online safety related questions.
  2. Email Guard: A feature that scans incoming emails in your online accounts to help detect potential scam and phishing risks, with AI-powered detection available as an optional setting.
  3. Web Guard: This tool scans internet activity in real time to prevent malware from downloading onto devices and help you avoid suspicious websites.

Refer to the sections below to learn how to use these features.

Use Avast Assistant

Avast Assistant is designed to work in all languages but currently performs best in the following: English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish.

These languages were chosen based on factors such as user demand, the availability of cybersecurity threat data, and the linguistic complexity involved in scam detection. Language support is continuously expanding, with future updates expected to include additional languages as the system learns and evolves.

Avast Assistant is an AI-powered virtual support tool that helps users stay safe online. It analyzes text messages, emails, links, and images to detect potential scams, phishing attempts, and other cybersecurity threats. Aside from identifying suspicious content, the assistant provides practical guidance to help users understand and appropriately respond to safety concerns.

To use Avast Assistant, follow the steps below:

  1. Open Avast Antivirus and go to Scam Guardian.
  2. In the Avast Assistant panel, you can:
    • Upload an image showing suspicious text, email, or webpage for analysis by Avast Assistant.
    • Enter text from a suspicious email or message, or a suspect URL for analysis by Avast Assistant.
    • Ask a question about any cybersecurity topic.

For more information about these options, refer to the sections below:

Upload an image to Avast Assistant

Supported image formats include PNG, JPG, and JPEG. The maximum file size limit is 5 MB.
  1. Click Upload Image. Locate the file on your Windows device, then click Open.
  2. Once the image has been uploaded, type your question into the field and click Submit (the arrow icon).
  3. Avast Assistant analyzes the submitted information. If a scam is detected, an explanation is provided along with advice on the next steps to take. You can continue asking further questions or uploading additional images in the same conversation.
  1. Click the + icon. Locate the file on your Mac, then click Open.
  2. Avast Assistant analyses the submitted image. If a scam is detected, an explanation is provided along with advice on the next steps to take. You can continue to ask furtherer questions or upload additional images in the same conversation.

Paste text or ask a question

  1. Write your question or paste a suspicious message or a link in the Avast Assistant field, then click Submit (the arrow icon).
  2. Avast Assistant will provide an answer to your question or an analysis of the submitted text or link. You can continue asking further questions in the same conversation.

Use Web Guard

Web Guard is a core protection feature in Avast Antivirus that scans internet activity in real-time to block malware like malicious scripts and help you avoid suspicious websites. It is enabled by default to help ensure robust security. However, users can adjust settings for detection sensitivity and malware handling. Refer to the following articles for customization options:

  • Adjusting settings for Avast Antivirus Core Shields
  • Excluding certain files or websites from scanning in Avast Antivirus
  • HTTPS scanning in Web Guard - FAQs
  • Managing HTTPS scanning in Web Guard in Avast Antivirus
  • Exclude certain files or websites from scanning in Avast Antivirus
  • Managing the Core Shields and Email Guard in Avast Security for Mac

Use Email Guard

Email Guard scans incoming emails and labels them as safe or unsafe to highlight potential scam and phishing threats. These labels are added directly in your online email account, enhancing your safety when checking emails on any device or browser. Refer to the following support articles for more information:

  • Email Guard - FAQs
  • Email Guard - Getting Started

Scam Guardian is a feature of Mobile Security that provides users with the following tools to recognize and avoid online threats, improving digital security:

  1. Avast Assistant: An AI-powered cybersecurity assistant that analyzes texts, emails, and links for potential scams and cybersecurity concerns. It can also be used for any online safety related questions.
  2. Web Guard: This tool scans internet activity in real time to prevent malware from downloading onto devices and help you avoid suspicious websites.
  3. SMS Guard: A scam protection tool that scans text messages in your default messaging app to help detect potentially risky links or scam content, with optional AI-powered detection.
  4. Email Guard: A feature that scans incoming emails in your online accounts to help detect potential scam and phishing risks, with AI-powered detection available as an optional setting.
  5. Call Guard: Automatically blocks suspicious and scam calls, and helps you identify whether incoming calls are from trusted contacts, businesses, or potentially risky sources.
  6. Link Guard: This features scans links you access from outside your browser, such as links from emails or messages, and warns you if they are dangerous before opening them in your default browser.
  1. Avast Assistant: An AI-powered cybersecurity assistant that analyzes texts, emails, and links for potential scams and cybersecurity concerns. It can also be used for any online safety related questions.
  2. Web Guard: This tool scans internet activity in real time to prevent malware from downloading onto devices and help you avoid suspicious websites. A local VPN (Virtual Private Network) is required to enable this feature.
  3. Email Guard: A feature that scans incoming emails in your online accounts to help detect potential scam and phishing risks, with AI-powered detection available as an optional setting.
  4. SMS Guard: A scam protection tool that scans text messages in your default messaging app to help detect potentially risky links or scam content, with optional AI-powered detection.
  5. Call Guard: Automatically blocks suspicious and scam calls, and helps you identify whether incoming calls are from trusted contacts, businesses, or potentially risky sources.

Refer to the sections below to learn how to use these features.

Use Avast Assistant

Avast Assistant only supports English. However, future updates are expected to include additional languages.

Avast Assistant is an AI-powered virtual support tool that helps users stay safe online. It analyzes text messages, emails, links, and images to detect potential scams, phishing attempts, and other cybersecurity threats. Aside from identifying suspicious content, the assistant provides practical guidance to help users understand and appropriately respond to safety concerns.

To use Avast Assistant, follow the steps below:

  1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. In the Avast Assistant panel, you can:
    • Upload an image showing suspicious text, email, or webpage for analysis by Avast Assistant.
    • Enter text from a suspicious email or message, or a suspect URL for analysis by Avast Assistant.
    • Ask a question about any cybersecurity topic.

For more information about these options, refer to the sections below:

Upload an image to Avast Assistant

  1. Tap Add image, then select an image on your device.
  2. Avast Assistant analyzes the submitted information. If a scam is detected, an explanation is provided along with advice on the next steps to take. You can continue asking further questions or uploading additional images in the same conversation.

Paste text or ask a question

  1. Write your question or paste a suspicious message or a link in the Avast Assistant field, then tap the Submit icon.
  2. Avast Assistant will provide an answer to your question or an analysis of the submitted text or link. You can continue asking further questions in the same conversation.

Set up Web Guard

To enable Web Guard:

  1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. Tap Web Guard.
  3. Tap Continue ▸ OK to add Accessibility permitions.
  4. On the Accessibility screen, tap Installed apps ▸ Avast Mobile Security Service.
    The steps may be different depending on your device model and Android version.
  5. Tap the slider so that it changes from OFF to ON.
  6. Optionally, tap Continue ▸ Allow to stop optimizing battery usage for Avast Mobile Security, so that it can run unrestricted in the background.
  7. Web Guard is now enabled. You can view the number of analyzed links and detected threats on this page.
  1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. Tap Web Guard.
  3. Tap Start setup.
  4. Tap Continue ▸ Allow to add VPN configurations.
  5. Web Guard is now enabled. You can view the number of analyzed links and detected threats on this page.
To disable Web Guard, tap Disable Web Guard.

Set up Email Guard

Email Guard scans your incoming emails when you check them using a web browser. To learn about how to set up and use the feature, refer to the following article: Email Guard - Getting Started.

Set up SMS Guard

To enable SMS Guard:

  1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. Tap SMS Guard.
  3. Tap Start setup.
  4. Tap Continue ▸ Allow to allow Avast Assistant to scan incoming messages for risky links.
  5. Tap Continue ▸ Allow to allow Avast Assistant to alert you when you receive a risky message.
    The steps may be different depending on your device model and Android version.
  6. Optionally, tap Continue ▸ Allow to help Avast Mobile Security identify SMS messages sent by unknown numbers.
  7. SMS Guard is now enabled. To enable AI-powered detection, ensure that the slider next to Avast Assistant scam detection is ON.
  1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. Tap SMS Guard.
  3. Tap Start setup ▸ Open Settings.
  4. On the Messages Settings screen, tap Unknown & Spam.
  5. Ensure that the Filter Unknown Senders slider is ON and tap Avast Security ▸ Enable.
  6. SMS Guard is now enabled. To enable AI-powered detection, ensure that the slider next to Avast Assistant scam detection is ON.
To disable SMS Guard, tap Unknown & Spam on the Messages Settings screen, then tap None under SMS filtering.

Set up Email Guard

Email Guard scans your incoming emails when you check them using a web browser. To learn about how to set up and use the feature, refer to the following article: Email Guard - Getting Started.

Set up Call Guard

To enable Call Guard:

  1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. Tap Call Guard.
  3. Tap Continue.
  4. Tap Continue ▸ Allow to help Avast Mobile Security identify and block calls.
  5. Tap Continue ▸ Allow to allow Avast Mobile Security to display blocked calls.
  6. Tap Continue ▸ Allow to set Avast Mobile Security as your default caller ID & spam app.
  7. Optionally, tap Continue ▸ Allow to help Avast Mobile Security identify calls from unknown numbers.
  8. Call Guard is now enabled. Ensure that the sliders next to Block scam calls and Identify incoming calls are ON.
  1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. Tap Call Guard.
  3. Tap Start setup ▸ Open Settings.
  4. On the Phone Settings screen, tap Call Blocking & Identification.
  5. Ensure that all Avast Mobile Security sliders are ON. If needed, tap Edit to move Avast Mobile Security to the top of the list.
  6. Call Guard is now enabled. To automatically block spam and suspicious calls, ensure that the slider next to Block automatically is ON.
To disable Call Guard, tap Disable Call Guard.

Set up Link Guard

To enable Link Guard:

  1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. Tap Link Guard.
  3. Tap Start setup.
  4. Tap Set default browsers.
  5. On the Default apps screen, tap Browser app, then select Avast Mobile Security as your default web browser in your Android settings. This requirement is only a system formality so that Avast Mobile Security can scan for threats. Link Guard is designed to open a link in a third-party web browser after checking it.
    The steps may be different depending on your device model and Android version.
  6. Link Guard is now enabled. Optionally tap Change to choose another browser for Link Guard to use.

Further recommendations

For more information about Avast Antivirus, refer to the following article:

  • Avast Premium Security and Avast Antivirus for Windows - FAQs
  • Avast Premium Security and Avast Security for Mac - FAQs
  • Avast Mobile Security - FAQs
  • Avast Mobile Security for Android - Getting Started
  • Avast Mobile Security for iOS - Getting Started
  • Avast Premium Security
  • Avast Free Antivirus
  • Avast Mobile Security
  • Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS


Updated on: 30/09/2025

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